Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

ACTS 27:29KJV
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Acts 27:29 (KJV)

What does Acts 27:29 mean?

Acts 27:29 describes how, fearing their ship would crash onto rocks during a dangerous night at sea, the crew threw four anchors from the back of the ship and anxiously hoped for daylight. This verse shows their urgent attempt to keep the ship safe until morning.

Paul is on a ship with sailors, soldiers, and other passengers, caught in a violent storm near the coast of Malta. The crew realizes they are close to land but cannot see clearly in the darkness, so they take practical steps to avoid disaster. The verse highlights the tension and uncertainty as everyone waits for daylight, unsure if their actions will be enough to save them.

The Greek behind Acts 27:29

  • "Fearing" (φοβούμενοι, phoboumenoi): This word means being afraid or deeply concerned, showing the real anxiety the sailors felt about hitting unseen rocks.
  • "Anchors" (ἀγκύρας, ankyras): The specific mention of four anchors emphasizes the seriousness of the situation; using multiple anchors was a last-resort effort to stabilize the ship.
  • "Wished" (ηὔχοντο, ēuchonto): This word carries the sense of earnestly hoping or praying, not just a casual wish, showing how desperate the crew was for daylight.

Why Acts 27:29 matters

  • Acts 27:29 clarifies just how dangerous the situation was, helping readers understand the real fear and urgency on board.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of Paul’s journey to Rome, showing the practical steps taken by the sailors alongside Paul’s faith and leadership.
  • The detail about wishing for day highlights the human side of the story—everyone, regardless of their background, was united in hope and fear as they waited for rescue.

Where else these words appear

“rocks” Greek G5138 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

“stern” Greek G4403 · used in 3 verses

  • Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
  • Acts 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

“anchors” Greek G45 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
  • Acts 27:40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
  • Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

“cast” Greek G4496 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
  • Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
  • Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.